The African Press Agency has announced that the African Union (AU) unveiled a
new flag at its 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government taking place in Addis Ababa on 31 January 2010. To tunes of the AU
anthem, the new flag was hoisted by the outgoing Chairperson of the African
Union, Libyan President Muammar El Gaddafi.

It was during the 8th African
Union Summit which took place in Addis Ababa between 29 and 30 January 2007,
that the Heads of State and Government decided to launch a competition for the
selection of a new flag for the African Union. They prescribed that the design
should include a green background for the flag symbolising hope of Africa and
stars to represent the Member States.

Pursuant to this decision, the
African Union Commission (AUC) organized a competition for the selection of a
new flag for the African Union. All African citizens were free to compete,
including those in the Diaspora and the laureate would be awarded a prize in
cash. The AUC received a total of 106 entries proposed by citizens of 19 African
countries and 2 from the Diaspora. The proposals were then examined by a panel
of experts put in place by the African Union Commission and selected from the
five African regions for short listing according to the main directions given by
the Heads of State and Government. At the 13th Ordinary Session of the Assembly,
the Heads of State and Government examined the report of the Panel and one of
the proposals to become the new flag. The flag is now part of the paraphernalia
of the African Union and replaces the old one.

In keeping with the
criteria laid down by the AUC, the new flag design has a dark green map of the
continent superimposed on a white stylized sun with 53 points. Surrounding the
central emblem are 53 gold five pointed-stars - one for each member state. (Morocco is currently the only country on the continent which is
not a member state.)

No information has been provided as to who is the
winning designer.Bruce Berry, 1 February 2010

Flagcraft, the South African flag manufacturer, made the new African Union
flag which was adopted on 30 January 2010. The colour pantones are: Green: 349C,
Gold: 1245CBruce Berry, 6 April 2010

The darker shade of green matches the dark shade shown in photographs of the
flag being raised at eh AU meeting, rather than the illustration in the AU media
release. I note that the new drawing includes a fine white line outlining the
map, particularly noticeable around Madagascar. I can see that this is a useful
design improvement, but is this an enhancement that has been made by the flag
manufacturer, or a design detail of the official flag that was not observed in
the original illustrations? I also note that the small off-shore island nations
are included - Cape Verde, Sao Tome & Principe, Equitorial Guinea (Bioko),
Comoros, Seychelles and apparently Reunion, though presumably not the Canary
Islands, Azores and Madeira.Ralph Kelly, 11 April 2010

New York (TADIAS) - One the evening of September 28th, 2009, Yadesa Bojia, an
Ethiopian American artist based in Seattle, Washington, was babysitting his
children while watching CNN when he recognized an image on his TV screen of one
of his artworks. "That’s my design!" he exclaimed. He was looking at the new
African Union flag created using a sketch that he had submitted for competition
two years earlier. "By then I had almost forgotten about it because at that
point I had not yet heard back from AU," Yadesa (a.k.a. Yaddi) recalled in a
recent interview with Tadias.
Yaddi spotted the flag on Lary King Live whose guest was Muammar Gaddafi, the
Chairman of the African Union as well as the head of the African Union
Commission (AUC) at the time. The Commission was tasked to come up with an
updated insignia for the continental body, and the interview conducted at the
Libyan Mission in New York showed Gaddafi flanked by the new banner. "I could
not believe my eyes," Yaddi said.
Immediately, Yaddi contacted the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa to enquire about
the new flag. "What flag?" the perplexed women on the other end of the receiver
replied. "Sir, I have no idea what you’re talking about."
"To top it off the next morning there was Gaddafi again on CNN wearing my design
all over his clothing," Yaddi remembered laughing. "I was losing my mind."
Yaddi would eventually learn that his work was selected earlier that year by the
Commission out of approximately 127 entries submitted in the span of two years
from artists residing in several African countries and including two contestants
from the Diaspora.
Three months after he first saw the flag on CNN, Yaddi finally received a formal
letter from the African Union announcing the adoption of his design as the
continent’s new emblem. The letter included an invitation along with a paid
travel package for him and his family to attend the flag’s inauguration ceremony
during the 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State held in Addis
Ababa on January 31st, 2010.
The design depicts a green Africa, the color portray the hopes and aspirations
of the continent, resting on rays of a white sun that symbolizes the people’s
desire for friendship and co-existence with all countries around the planet. The
map is circled by a ring of golden stars each representing member states, wealth
and a bright future.
"I was told by an official from the Ethiopian ministry of Foreign Affairs that
when Meles found out the winner was an Ethiopian, he told them to go find the
guy," he said. "Once I got to Addis, on the second day of events, I was
approached by the protocol chief who informed me that the Prime Minister wanted
to see me. So my wife and I had the chance to meet with the PM privately who
told me that he was proud of my work." He added: "In addition, I also met with
President Zuma of South Africa and other leaders who were very complimentary of
the flag. Not to mention the five hours I spent with President Girma
Wolde-Giorgis at the national palace."
Source:
http://www.tadias.com/05/19/2013/yadesa-bojia-reflects-on-african-union-flag-on-50th-anniversaryJosé Manuel Erbez Rodríguez posted in I Love Flags on 20 May 2013

African Union is getting a new flag as reported by APA (African Press
Agency):

"APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The African Union (AU) will soon
have a new flag; APA learns Friday in Addis-Ababa during the in-camera meeting
of the Executive Board's meeting as part of the preparatory sessions of the 12th
Summit of the Organisation. The decision to have a new flag surfaced over a year
ago, but the process was speeded-up under the aegis of the current Chairperson
of the Commission, Mr. Jean Ping, who referred his detailed report on the period
from July to December 2008 to the approval of the Executive Board.

According to the report that APA skimmed through, the Commission received 116
proposals, five of which were eventually selected with an eye to redesigning the
colours of the pan-African flag. The report of Mr. Ping who took the leadership
of the Commission in April 2008 reflected the main activities of the institution
during the six past months. The Executive Board, the activities of which were
still going on Friday in the Ethiopian capital city host town to the AU
headquarters, is looking into all the reports referred to them before an agenda
is tabled before the Heads of State and government during the 12th ordinary
session billed for February 1 - 3 2009 in Addis-Ababa. MN/mn/of/od/ovh/APA
2009-01-31"Chrystian Kretowicz, 31 January 2009

The African Union (AU) was launched in Durban, South Africa, 9
July 2002. It is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity
(OAU).
The AU has not yet adopted any new symbols although there is a special logo for
the inaugural meeting tomorrow which is being attended by Heads of States. This
was featured on a stamp issued by the South
African Post Office last week. The AU is expected to formally adopt new symbols
(including a flag) in due course. Today is the final session of the OAU,
following which its flag will be lowered.
Bruce Berry, 8 July 2002

The advertisement below about a competition to design symbols (including a
flag) for the newly formed African Union was published in the Sunday Times
(Johannesburg) on 13 April 2003.

AFRICAN UNION (AU) SYMBOLS COMPETITION
The African Union (AU) is in a process to design its new symbols: An anthem,
flag and logo. The Public is invited to enter for the AU Symbols design
competition.

The brief: The Anthem. An anthem shall be composed in a way that the first
stanzas or a refrain and two verses sung or executed with musical instruments
during official ceremonies do not exceed one minute. Each dossier submitted in
one or several of the working languages of the African Union (English, Arabic,
French, and Portuguese) shall include: The lyrics of the Anthem; The music
written in scores; the lyric and music written in scores; A good sound recording
of the instrumental and/or sung music; A clear and concise explanatory note. The
Flag: Each work, executed in colours, shall be submitted in three copies,
accompanied by a clear and concise explanatory note written in one or several
working languages of the African Union. The note shall indicate among other
things, the proposed meanings of the colours, designs, figures, or symbols, if
there are any on the flag, as well as their respective sizes. The Logo: Each
work, executed in colour and in black and white shall be submitted in three
copies, accompanied by a clear and concise explanatory note written in one or
several working languages of the African Union. The note shall indicate, among
other things, the proposed meanings of the colours, designs, figures or symbols,
if there are any, on the flag, as well as their respective sizes. Proposals for
a motto are also welcome. However, these proposals will not be subjected to a
competitive process. The first ten mottoes shall be submitted to the Second
Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government slated for
Maputo, Mozambique, in July 2003. Each work shall be a new creation or a
modification of the OAU symbol. In composing the symbols, candidates shall draw
inspiration from, the following values (list indicative): Struggle, defence,
courage, sacrifice, victory, glory, peace; Freedom, liberation, independence,
sovereignty; Work, effort, prosperity, wealth, industriousness. Union, unity,
solidarity, fraternity; Sanctity of life, sacred, nature of the African
continent, purity, respect, dignity, justice, durability, universality, eternity;
Hope, faith, future). These values may be drawn from African History, culture,
civilization, spirituality, inspiration, geography. Similarly reference may be
made to Africa as one of the cradles of mankind.

Competition Rules. All three competitions shall be open to nationals of all
Member States. It is possible for a candidate to submit entries for on or more
of the three competitions. No entry submitted shall be returned to its owner.
The entry submitted shall be returned to its owner. The entries received
together with a clear and concise representation shall be submitted to a jury
set up by the Commission. The three best entries shall be presented to the
Second Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the
Union Scheduled to take place in Maputo, Mozambique in July 2003, which shall
choose the AU official symbols (anthem, flag and logo).

Please Note: The Jury or the Assembly of Heads of State and Government may
decide to modify an entry without prejudice to the award meant for the laureate;
The three pre-selected entries’ copyright as well as commercial and
non-commercial right shall be the property of the African Union; The commission
reserves the right to use all or any part of all the entries submitted in
whatever way it deems fit. The Commission shall take the necessary steps to
ensure that the words of Anthem that is finally chosen are translated and
adapted by lyric writers, so that it can be sung in each of the other working
languages of the Union. Participation in the competition implies acceptance of
the provisions of these rule. No recourse shall be entertained about the outcome
of the pre-selection, deliberations and the final choice. The authors of the
three best entries (anthems, flags, logos) who will be presented to the Assembly
of Heads of State and Government, shall
receive awards as follows:

Prizes to be won:
First award: US$ 7.000.00
Second award: US$ 5.000.00
Third award: US$ 3.000.00
The entries should be submitted to: The Chief Directorate: Africa Multilateral
Closing date: 25 April 2003

Bruce Berry, 17 April 2003

It seems, however, that no proposal was selected at all. A wire from the
Chinese agency Xinhua, dated from 9 July 2004, says (my translation into English
from the French text of the wire given on the Africatime website):

Addis Ababa -- The member states of the African Union have decided on Thursday
in Addis Ababa to retain the emblem and the flag of the former Organization of
African Unity. The African heads of states and government made this decision
during the third summit of the African Union, which took place from 6 to 8 July
in the Ethiopian capital city.

The image of the flag illustrated on
this page shows the emblem with the map of Africa in brown, which seems to
be incorrect. The emblem should be of the same colour as the two thin stripes,
that is dark yellow.Ivan Sache, 14 July 2004

by
Marc Pasquin

The image shown here with brown bands is based on a flag seen for the African
Union's
Ceasefire commission in the Darfur region of Sudan. The CFC's role is
similar to the UN peacekeepers in other conflicts. The
flag used is simply the union's flag
defaced with the commission's initials.Marc Pasquin, 9 November 2004

It appears the competition for a flag of the African Union has been
reinvigorated: all the details are contained in the following texts:

Decision#151 and the Competition Announcement

DECISION #151
DECISION ON THE FLAG OF THE AFRICAN UNION

The Assembly,

TAKES NOTE of the report of the Committee of Seven Heads of State and Government
on the Union Government relating to the Flag of the African Union;

RECALLS its Decision Assembly/AU/Dec. 129 (VII) taken at its 7th Ordinary
Session in Banjul;

DECIDES to launch a competition for the selection of a new flag for the African
Union;

REQUESTS the Commission to take all the necessary measures to organize the
competition with the following agreed orientations:

- the background of the Flag should be of green colour to symbolize Africa’s
hope;
- Member States should be represented by stars on the flag;

DECIDES that the design proposed by the Leader of the Great Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya should be taken as one of the entries for the competition;

REQUESTS the Commission to submit the outcome of the selection to the 9th
Ordinary Session of the Assembly in July 2007.

COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT
In implementation of Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.151(VIII) adopted at the 8th
Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union held in Addis Ababa from
29 to 30 January 2007, the African Union Commission launches a competition for
the selection of a new flag for the Union.

The conditions for participation in this competition are set by these Terms of
Reference.

OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the competition is to select a new flag for the African Union
from proposals submitted by candidates participating in the competition.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
The new flag of the African Union should imperatively have the following
orientations:
a) The background of the flag should be of green colour to symbolize Africa’s
hope;
b) Member States, numbering 53, if represented, should be depicted by one or
more stars on the flag.

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION:
The competition is open to all African citizens wishing to take part as well as
those of the Diaspora.

CONTENTS OF PROPOSAL:
1. An original version on paper of the project with 21/27 dimensions and in
colour;
2. An electronic version of the same project sent by e-mail;
3. a separate, detailed description of the colours used (percentages) as well as
the symbols used;
4. An undertaking duly signed by the candidate, according to the model attached
hereto.

SHORT-LISTING:
Proposals received will be short-listed by a Special Committee established for
that purpose.

DEADLINE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS:
The deadline for the submission of the paper and electronic versions of
proposals is Monday, 30 April 2007.

ADDRESS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS:
Proposals should be submitted to the following addresses:
(a) For the paper version:
The proposal should be sent by registered mail. It should be received at the
indicated address below latest 30 April 2007. The stamp of the African Union
Registry Office will serve as proof of date of reception. Send your submission
to:
African Union Commission,
P.O.Box 3243
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

(b) For the electronic version:
The e-mail including the proposal as an attachment should be sent to the
following address: webmaster@..., by latest 30 April 2007, the date the email is
sent serving as proof.

PRIZE OF THE COMPETITION:
A prize in cash or kind to be awarded to the winner.

The Republic of South Sudan was officially admitted as a
member of the African
Union on Monday, 15 August 2011.
The flag of the Republic of South Sudan was hoisted among
the African Union
Commission flags at a special ceremony at the African Union
commission
Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The flag hoisting was conducted
in the presence of
the President Kiir of South Sudan, the Deputy Prime Minister
of Ethiopia H.E
Haile Marian Dastaly, and Chairperson of African Union
Commission Mr. Jean Ping, besides other members of the AU/C.
According to an AU Press Release (090/2011) dated 15 August 2011:
"This is a historic day for South Sudan and for the African
Continent as well." It is with these words that Dr. Jean
Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, warmly
welcomed General Sallva Kiir Mayardit, President of the
Republic of South Sudan, at the headquarters of the African
Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Before the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of foreign
Affairs of Ethiopia, Ministers, AU
Commissioners, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the UN-ECA,
Ambassadors, and an enthusiastic South Sudanese Delegation,
Dr. Jean Ping celebrated the official admission celebration
of South Sudan to the African Union. He announced that the
African Union Member States had promptly accepted the
Republic of South Sudan as the 54th Member State of the
African Union. ..."
Although not mentioned in the text of the press release, it is entitled "AU adds
54th star to its flag" so we can assume that another star is to be added to the
flag of the AU to represent South Sudan.Bruce Berry, 17 August 2011